[ Stiles has been very proud of his ingenuity throughout this trip, be it for banners or alliances or throwing overly hot kids over his shoulders and diving into the river with them. All in all, he was proving himself to be more and more competent as the day went on, and he was starting to find his rhythm in the pack, just as much as he used to walking the halls of Riverrun as a kid.
He spots Derek out of the corner of his eye, when he's walking through the mud with a kid attached to either of his arms, and pauses, looking at him. Then he gets a grin on his face, and shakes off the two faolan attached to him only to sink lowly into the water and gather up a ball of mud, making a silent "shh" gesture at the kids, who covered their mouths to stifle their giggles. Ultimately it didn't matter--there were enough kids frolicking around that surely no one would notice Stiles winding his arm back.
And then flinging the mud ball with surprisingly dead on accuracy, right at Derek's face. ]
[ So distracted in watching over the currently hyped up children of the pack as he is, Derek completely misses Stiles' throw.
Until it's smacking him and covering his hair, forehead, and the left side of his face with mud. He jolts, but doesn't fall over as he braces a hand on the ground, and screws up his face for a brief moment. One eye closed, he looks for the likely culprit-- he knows exactly who it was-- and, once he does, he shakes himself off very much like a dog to get as much of the mud cleaned away as is possible. It's a surprising amount, but his hair sticks up in a rather hilarious way (intentional) and in the light of the summer sun, any unaware onlookers could very well say that crisp, clear eyes shone red for a moment.
Stiles has found his place in the pack, it's to be sure. He's lighthearted where necessary, taking care of faolan, peer, and elder alike, though he tends to downplay it and himself. He's smart, and ingenuity is fairly accurate when it comes to his plans, though Derek has had to butt in on more than one until some sort of agreement was reached. (Whether Derek or Stiles were wrong or they simply needed to adjust was not a feat, simply that they could actually compromise was impressive on its own.)
That does not mean that he's safe from retribution.
So he makes his way down from the edge of the river, stepping into the water and making a slow, steady approach towards his second. ]
[ There's a moment of dead silence as Stiles realizes exactly what he just did.
Technically, he attacked the alpha, (sort of), which could pretty much end with him getting maimed in about fifty different ways. But it was hilarious, and the minute he catches a look at Derek's hair, any slight tinge of concern disappears for howling laughter, as he has to double over where he's standing with the force of it. He looks ridiculous, and okay, if he's going to go down for this, it's so totally worth it.
And while Derek's stalk is predatory, any fear he has is mostly jut for exactly what kind of retribution he's going to get. As Derek starts to come closer he takes a couple steps backwards, ready to run for his life--even it's futile--and realizing exactly what's going to happen. ] Oh my god--no, nononononono!
In reality, however, Derek is just going to drown him in the river of his home. No big deal, really. It won't even take but a minute, and he won't even have to drag him in very deep, considering it doesn't take much to drown a man in water.
Quickening his pace towards him as he takes steps back, he lunges in right towards Stiles' middle so that he can pivot his shoulder into him, use his momentum and size to throw him up and over his shoulder like a sack. There's squealing (and some yipping) from the kids around them, laughter and excitement, and it just...
They're miles and miles away from their home beyond the Wall, but it feels like home regardless. ]
Nooonononononoohmygod! [ He absolutely squawks the moment Derek hits him in the gut, the noise more or less smacked out of him, and gets thrown over Derek's shoulder like he's made of paper; Stiles kicks his feet and squirms around over his shoulder, purposefully trying to reach a hand up to mash more of the mud around his face.
Even still, he looks like he's having a good time--there's no terror or fright or anything, aside from what's probably going to hurt when he drops him--and he's shouting even as they start to drift across the way. Stiles even makes dramatic grabbing gestures at a couple of the faolan they pass, because he obviously needs so much help.
But when he realizes where they are on the river, he pales. ]
Oh my god, no, don't you even think about it, that was a one time thing you copycat! [ NOT THE MUD NOT THE MUD NOT THE MUD ]
But you set such a good example for us wildlings, lupa. [ Calmly making his way through the water, having no trouble with it nor the faolan that attach themselves to him in an attempt to "help" Stiles, all giggles, Derek hums softly. It turns into a rumble, something Stiles will likely feel more than hear with how much he's moving around and protesting. The attempts to free himself, and to be a general nuisance, are mostly ignored in favor of the mission that the faoladh has set out for himself.
He looks down at the mud, then at Stiles out of the corner of his eye.
Without another word, he swings the Southorn around to drop him right smack dab in the middle of the muddiest spot that he can see, taking far more satisfaction in it than he should. Between watching Stiles and the children play, the general good spirits of his pack despite the complaints about this horrible thing called summer, and seeing Stiles so happy?
I'll show you a good examaugh! [ He can't even get out his protest, because the next thing Stiles knows, his world's being upended and he's ass first in a pile of mud, windmilling his arms backwards and making a (probably satisfying) splat the minute he makes contact. It's disgusting and he makes an "auuugh" noise, but Stiles isn't one to be defeated that easily.
He lunges out and grabs Derek around the knees, aiming to fell the giant himself, pressing his muddy face into his pants and grinning like an absolute maniac. The faolan aren't far behind, following Stiles' attempt to knock Derek over, and he cheerfully yells-- ] Timbeeeeeeeeeer! [ As it seems like they might actually succeed. ]
Well, it's more like Derek is actually fairly indulging when it comes to the faolan. He braces when Stiles crashes into his legs, and only wobbles until suddenly there are children clambering on them and trying to fell the mighty faoladh. So he sways even more, as if it's actually doing anything, and then...
He crumples amongst them and into the water, making a dramatically anguished sound as he winds up covered in faolan and lupa. ]
Curse you, Stilinski. You and your minions alike.
[ But he's laughing, and actually smiling despite the mud and river water. ]
Say what? Say it again, say you were defeated by the might of Stiles Stilinski and his mighty faolan, I'm listening! [ Crowing dramatically, Stiles is the first one to pounce on Derek when they hit the ground--he's wrestling with him in the mud, trying to pin him down and making a huge mess of them both at the same time.
The kids are helping, supposedly, crawling around and getting mud everywhere, and Stiles makes a delighted noise as he starts wrestling with the obviously stronger northerner, very obviously having the time of his life.
But he also doesn't have much of a chance against him, either, so he's going to enjoy his very temporary victory. ]
[ At first, Derek lets himself be pinned with minimal struggling, getting so covered in mud that he'll have to wash it clean of his back for anyone to be able to see the triskele whirling between his shoulder blades. He bares his teeth in a grin, only partially predatory and mostly humor. It's been a long, long time since he last had quite so much fun, and it's all because of Stiles and a group of kids. ]
Well, I could, but--
[ It's then that he chooses to use his superior size against his attackers, rolling them over and through the mud. ]
[ The kids and Stiles all shriek the minute they're rolled over, and most of the faolan scatter as mud goes flying everywhere--it ends up with Stiles on his back, laughing with his head thrown back into the mud, pinned down, covered in dirt and not at all complaining for it. This is fun, it's so fun, and Derek...
Derek's right there with him, making it that way. Grinning, actually smiling, and for a minute, there's a rush of feelings so strong that Stiles can't help the way his smile softens around the edges.
Or, in fact, the way he brings his two muddy hands up, the only thing not more or less pinned under him, spreads his long fingers across his cheeks, and pulls him in for a kiss. It's not long, or anything, and there's a smile on his face when he does it--but a kiss nonetheless. ]
[ A few of the faolan clamber onto his back, trying to find purchase in mud-slick muscles and shoulders as they laugh down at their faoladh and lupa, but Derek doesn't quite hear them as much as he just sees Stiles. Smiling and laughing and happy in his home, happy to be with them and showing them everything.
And it makes him soften, too, the same that he's been softer with Stiles around in the north and south alike. His shoulders relax, his smile downturns in a show of honest contentment, and he braces his hands near Stiles' head as he watches him.
He still doesn't quite expect the kiss, even as he feels Stiles' muddy hands leaving wet tracks in his stubble, fingers fanning over skin. He can't help but blink down at him, surprised, but then he leans down after him, smile wide and sincere and pressed to Stiles' own smile in turn. ]
[ All things considered, for a first kiss, it's pretty fantastic.
Stiles is kind of thankful for the way things have gone down. When this started, he was expecting the kind of arranged marriage most people in Westeros had, if not something worse. The tales of the free folk were wild, savage even, and the last thing Stiles had been preparing himself for was this, the slow tumble into what was a genuine relationship, of sinking into it instead of falling head over heels or being dragged. It made the kiss Derek chased him with feel natural, like the next progression, like getting the pack band or curling up with him under the furs at night.
A noise escapes him that sounds a bit like a laugh, and he drops one of his hands, kissing him back slowly, to the sound of a couple faolan and Scott shrieking their "eeww", relishing in the fact that whatever was restless in him was settling--like he'd caught something he'd been chasing for a long time.
But that doesn't stop him from being Stiles, though, and he gets a handful of mud, breaks the kiss away, smiles at him...and mashes the mud in his face. ]
[ All around him, Derek can hear the sounds of his pack-- faolan and beta, mentors and family-- whether it's directed towards them or not. It soothes something in his soul, as Stiles mends the cracks from a fire pushing on nine years ago that left him burnt and tasting ash.
The fact that this can be a thing, that he can hold Stiles and kiss him, instead of keep him at a cold distance of formality... it's not something he expected to have. Not after a rocky meeting, not after a rocky month that only began to turn when Stiles fell ill. And then it grew, and it grew, and it grew. Something became of them.
And then, the sun caught the moon.
He's not in the least bit surprised to suddenly find mud in his face. Growling, teeth bared, he surges forward and rubs his face all over Stiles'. Cheeks, forehead, hair, everywhere.
Simply because he can. Simply because he can have this. ]
[ Bursting into laughter, Stiles immediately starts fighting back, getting handfuls of mud and mashing it into Derek's hair. So they're the leaders of a hundred some odd people. Really mature ones, clearly.
But he's happy, he's happier than he's been in months--but it was the kind that settled on him, not coming out of nowhere. Like today was just the realization that, at least since the first incident with the errant beta, he'd been getting towards a solid place all along.
When he gets free of his face, he grabs him again, mashing his fingers in his hair, and presses their foreheads together, making a huge mess of himself and not really finding it in him anywhere to care. ]
[ Resigning himself to his rather muddy fate, Derek growls at him again but finds it becoming a deep, throaty laugh in response to Stiles' bright laughter. Just because they're leaders of a pack doesn't mean they can't have fun like the rest of them. Besides, he really can't remember the last time he laughed this much.
But he hadn't had such a steady anchor back then. It was something more volatile, then, that kept him human but left his pack dancing cautiously around him for the longest time. The fact that Stiles made him softer, had him more at ease, is something that he has to marvel at. They spent so much time still bickering and bantering-- as friendly as it'd become-- that he didn't know how it even happened.
Not that he wants to question it, at the risk of losing it. He rubs his forehead against Stiles' as he presses them together. It smears more mud everywhere, but he really doesn't care either. ]
Ew! Oh my god, how old are you, five? [ Ignoring the fact that Stiles totally started it. The Southroner can't help the grin that splays across his face when Derek smiles, and he leans backwards a little in the mud to take in the sight in front of him. He looks ridiculous, but happy, something Stiles has only been privy to a smattering of times since his arrival, and it makes something clench in his chest, squirming and warm and a little overwhelming, enough so that his grin softens into something crooked and he leans forward to kiss him again.
He wouldn't trade this for much of anything nowadays. As much as he missed Riverrun--as great as it was being here again--leaving home had been the right thing to help him climb the mountain of guilt and panic and sadness that had come when his mother'd finally passed away. He had his family here, and his family in the North, his pack, and Derek. ]
What does that make you, I wonder. [ Stiles definitely started it. But either way, Derek isn't too bothered by this. In fact, he's more than happy with it. He leans over Stiles easily, just barely resting a hand in the mud to keep his balance as the Southron leans back from him. His hair sticks up in every direction because of the mud, flattened in other places, and he can feel it caking on him everywhere. His lupa doesn't look much better, but there's something about the fact that he's covered head to toe in mud with an equally messy nest of hair that's incredibly attractive.
So it's easy to kiss him back, soft smile still intact and pressed against Stiles'. He lifts both hands up, cradling Stiles' face and kissing him slow, almost languid. And it doesn't taste like ash or smoke, like old memories that drag him down like a stone. Because loss does that, and now he has this-- he has a pack that's closer to him, has Stiles, and he's happier than he ever thought he'd be again. ]
Two and a half. [ He smiles primly at Derek, even if the effect is completely ruined by the mud caked on his cheeks, covering his spots completely. He needs another dip, and so does Derek, but he's not about to move when he's kissing him like that.
His hands wrap around Derek's shoulders for a moment, one coming to rest loosely over the triskele on Derek's back, automatically, even if he's not seeking it out. He can practically feel Derek smiling against his mouth, and it's wondrous and crazy all at once, the kind of thing he's going to feel like he can't get enough of, like he's a junkie. (At least he can admit to it.)
When he does finally pull away, it's barely away from the kiss, mouth still pressed lightly to his. ] Dude, if we stay here, I'm going to get stuck.
[ He can't help but laugh softly against his lips, smile still intact-- and he feels like it's not going to go anywhere any time soon. Not so long as Stiles is around. Funny, how he thought at first that he'd want to leave him in the wilds of the North and now he was the only patch of summer in the eternal winter.
His thumbs sweep along his cheeks, clearing some of the mud from them but only to smear it elsewhere unintentionally. They really do need to get back into the water proper and try to get the mud off, but he's not inclined to move right away. Not when he can just kiss Stiles and have this again.
A faint rumble leaves him in a laugh, quiet against Stiles' lips as he opens his eyes to look at him again. ] I'll pull you out.
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no subject
He spots Derek out of the corner of his eye, when he's walking through the mud with a kid attached to either of his arms, and pauses, looking at him. Then he gets a grin on his face, and shakes off the two faolan attached to him only to sink lowly into the water and gather up a ball of mud, making a silent "shh" gesture at the kids, who covered their mouths to stifle their giggles. Ultimately it didn't matter--there were enough kids frolicking around that surely no one would notice Stiles winding his arm back.
And then flinging the mud ball with surprisingly dead on accuracy, right at Derek's face. ]
no subject
Until it's smacking him and covering his hair, forehead, and the left side of his face with mud. He jolts, but doesn't fall over as he braces a hand on the ground, and screws up his face for a brief moment. One eye closed, he looks for the likely culprit-- he knows exactly who it was-- and, once he does, he shakes himself off very much like a dog to get as much of the mud cleaned away as is possible. It's a surprising amount, but his hair sticks up in a rather hilarious way (intentional) and in the light of the summer sun, any unaware onlookers could very well say that crisp, clear eyes shone red for a moment.
Stiles has found his place in the pack, it's to be sure. He's lighthearted where necessary, taking care of faolan, peer, and elder alike, though he tends to downplay it and himself. He's smart, and ingenuity is fairly accurate when it comes to his plans, though Derek has had to butt in on more than one until some sort of agreement was reached. (Whether Derek or Stiles were wrong or they simply needed to adjust was not a feat, simply that they could actually compromise was impressive on its own.)
That does not mean that he's safe from retribution.
So he makes his way down from the edge of the river, stepping into the water and making a slow, steady approach towards his second. ]
no subject
Technically, he attacked the alpha, (sort of), which could pretty much end with him getting maimed in about fifty different ways. But it was hilarious, and the minute he catches a look at Derek's hair, any slight tinge of concern disappears for howling laughter, as he has to double over where he's standing with the force of it. He looks ridiculous, and okay, if he's going to go down for this, it's so totally worth it.
And while Derek's stalk is predatory, any fear he has is mostly jut for exactly what kind of retribution he's going to get. As Derek starts to come closer he takes a couple steps backwards, ready to run for his life--even it's futile--and realizing exactly what's going to happen. ] Oh my god--no, nononononono!
no subject
In reality, however, Derek is just going to drown him in the river of his home. No big deal, really. It won't even take but a minute, and he won't even have to drag him in very deep, considering it doesn't take much to drown a man in water.
Quickening his pace towards him as he takes steps back, he lunges in right towards Stiles' middle so that he can pivot his shoulder into him, use his momentum and size to throw him up and over his shoulder like a sack. There's squealing (and some yipping) from the kids around them, laughter and excitement, and it just...
They're miles and miles away from their home beyond the Wall, but it feels like home regardless. ]
no subject
Even still, he looks like he's having a good time--there's no terror or fright or anything, aside from what's probably going to hurt when he drops him--and he's shouting even as they start to drift across the way. Stiles even makes dramatic grabbing gestures at a couple of the faolan they pass, because he obviously needs so much help.
But when he realizes where they are on the river, he pales. ]
Oh my god, no, don't you even think about it, that was a one time thing you copycat! [ NOT THE MUD NOT THE MUD NOT THE MUD ]
no subject
He looks down at the mud, then at Stiles out of the corner of his eye.
Without another word, he swings the Southorn around to drop him right smack dab in the middle of the muddiest spot that he can see, taking far more satisfaction in it than he should. Between watching Stiles and the children play, the general good spirits of his pack despite the complaints about this horrible thing called summer, and seeing Stiles so happy?
Well, he's a little happy, himself. ]
no subject
He lunges out and grabs Derek around the knees, aiming to fell the giant himself, pressing his muddy face into his pants and grinning like an absolute maniac. The faolan aren't far behind, following Stiles' attempt to knock Derek over, and he cheerfully yells-- ] Timbeeeeeeeeeer! [ As it seems like they might actually succeed. ]
no subject
Well, it's more like Derek is actually fairly indulging when it comes to the faolan. He braces when Stiles crashes into his legs, and only wobbles until suddenly there are children clambering on them and trying to fell the mighty faoladh. So he sways even more, as if it's actually doing anything, and then...
He crumples amongst them and into the water, making a dramatically anguished sound as he winds up covered in faolan and lupa. ]
Curse you, Stilinski. You and your minions alike.
[ But he's laughing, and actually smiling despite the mud and river water. ]
no subject
The kids are helping, supposedly, crawling around and getting mud everywhere, and Stiles makes a delighted noise as he starts wrestling with the obviously stronger northerner, very obviously having the time of his life.
But he also doesn't have much of a chance against him, either, so he's going to enjoy his very temporary victory. ]
no subject
Well, I could, but--
[ It's then that he chooses to use his superior size against his attackers, rolling them over and through the mud. ]
It wouldn't be quite accurate.
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Derek's right there with him, making it that way. Grinning, actually smiling, and for a minute, there's a rush of feelings so strong that Stiles can't help the way his smile softens around the edges.
Or, in fact, the way he brings his two muddy hands up, the only thing not more or less pinned under him, spreads his long fingers across his cheeks, and pulls him in for a kiss. It's not long, or anything, and there's a smile on his face when he does it--but a kiss nonetheless. ]
no subject
And it makes him soften, too, the same that he's been softer with Stiles around in the north and south alike. His shoulders relax, his smile downturns in a show of honest contentment, and he braces his hands near Stiles' head as he watches him.
He still doesn't quite expect the kiss, even as he feels Stiles' muddy hands leaving wet tracks in his stubble, fingers fanning over skin. He can't help but blink down at him, surprised, but then he leans down after him, smile wide and sincere and pressed to Stiles' own smile in turn. ]
no subject
Stiles is kind of thankful for the way things have gone down. When this started, he was expecting the kind of arranged marriage most people in Westeros had, if not something worse. The tales of the free folk were wild, savage even, and the last thing Stiles had been preparing himself for was this, the slow tumble into what was a genuine relationship, of sinking into it instead of falling head over heels or being dragged. It made the kiss Derek chased him with feel natural, like the next progression, like getting the pack band or curling up with him under the furs at night.
A noise escapes him that sounds a bit like a laugh, and he drops one of his hands, kissing him back slowly, to the sound of a couple faolan
and Scottshrieking their "eeww", relishing in the fact that whatever was restless in him was settling--like he'd caught something he'd been chasing for a long time.But that doesn't stop him from being Stiles, though, and he gets a handful of mud, breaks the kiss away, smiles at him...and mashes the mud in his face. ]
no subject
The fact that this can be a thing, that he can hold Stiles and kiss him, instead of keep him at a cold distance of formality... it's not something he expected to have. Not after a rocky meeting, not after a rocky month that only began to turn when Stiles fell ill. And then it grew, and it grew, and it grew. Something became of them.
And then, the sun caught the moon.
He's not in the least bit surprised to suddenly find mud in his face. Growling, teeth bared, he surges forward and rubs his face all over Stiles'. Cheeks, forehead, hair, everywhere.
Simply because he can. Simply because he can have this. ]
no subject
But he's happy, he's happier than he's been in months--but it was the kind that settled on him, not coming out of nowhere. Like today was just the realization that, at least since the first incident with the errant beta, he'd been getting towards a solid place all along.
When he gets free of his face, he grabs him again, mashing his fingers in his hair, and presses their foreheads together, making a huge mess of himself and not really finding it in him anywhere to care. ]
no subject
But he hadn't had such a steady anchor back then. It was something more volatile, then, that kept him human but left his pack dancing cautiously around him for the longest time. The fact that Stiles made him softer, had him more at ease, is something that he has to marvel at. They spent so much time still bickering and bantering-- as friendly as it'd become-- that he didn't know how it even happened.
Not that he wants to question it, at the risk of losing it. He rubs his forehead against Stiles' as he presses them together. It smears more mud everywhere, but he really doesn't care either. ]
no subject
He wouldn't trade this for much of anything nowadays. As much as he missed Riverrun--as great as it was being here again--leaving home had been the right thing to help him climb the mountain of guilt and panic and sadness that had come when his mother'd finally passed away. He had his family here, and his family in the North, his pack, and Derek. ]
no subject
So it's easy to kiss him back, soft smile still intact and pressed against Stiles'. He lifts both hands up, cradling Stiles' face and kissing him slow, almost languid. And it doesn't taste like ash or smoke, like old memories that drag him down like a stone. Because loss does that, and now he has this-- he has a pack that's closer to him, has Stiles, and he's happier than he ever thought he'd be again. ]
no subject
His hands wrap around Derek's shoulders for a moment, one coming to rest loosely over the triskele on Derek's back, automatically, even if he's not seeking it out. He can practically feel Derek smiling against his mouth, and it's wondrous and crazy all at once, the kind of thing he's going to feel like he can't get enough of, like he's a junkie. (At least he can admit to it.)
When he does finally pull away, it's barely away from the kiss, mouth still pressed lightly to his. ] Dude, if we stay here, I'm going to get stuck.
no subject
His thumbs sweep along his cheeks, clearing some of the mud from them but only to smear it elsewhere unintentionally. They really do need to get back into the water proper and try to get the mud off, but he's not inclined to move right away. Not when he can just kiss Stiles and have this again.
A faint rumble leaves him in a laugh, quiet against Stiles' lips as he opens his eyes to look at him again. ] I'll pull you out.